James Meager | |
|---|---|
 Meager in 2023 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitata | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Jo Luxton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Rawiri Meager 1986or1987(age 36–37) Timaru,New Zealand |
| Political party | National |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
James Rawiri Meager [1] (born 1986or1987) is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party in the electorate of Rangitata.
Born in Timaru in 1986or1987,Meager is of Ngāi Tahu descent. [2] He grew up in Timaru,where he lived in state housing. [3] Meager attended Timaru Boys' High School,where he was head boy and dux. [4] He gained Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Otago,although he had originally intended to become a doctor. [5] [6] He describes himself as "loud-mouthed,obnoxious and opinionated" while at university,and ascribes his bad behaviour partly to alcohol use. [6] While at university,Meager helped on National Party list MP Michael Woodhouse's 2011 campaign,and went on to run the 2014 campaign. [6] Prior to being elected to Parliament,Meager worked as a senior solicitor for Simpson Grierson, [7] [8] and ran a consultancy firm. He has also worked as a press secretary to Paula Bennett,as a staffer for Chris Bishop's parliamentary office,and an advisor to Bill English and Simon Bridges. [9]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 –present | 54th | Rangitata | 69 | National | |
Meager was selected as National's candidate for the formerly safe seat of Rangitata on 18 September 2022. It was a close contest with one other competitor vying for the nomination. [2]
On election night, Meager received 22,792 votes, beating incumbent Labour Party MP Jo Luxton by 10,846 votes. [10] [11] Meager said his first priority as a member of parliament would be to ensure the building of a second bridge for Ashburton happened according to the planned timeframes. [4] The bridge was announced by the Labour government in August 2023, with construction due to start in 2024 and take two years. Meager was concerned that timeframes might change, but promised to begin construction in the first parliamentary term. [4]
Perhaps to some I am a walking contradiction—you know, a part-Māori boy, raised in a State house by a single parent on the benefit, now a proud National Party MP in a deeply rural farming electorate in the middle of the South Island—but there is no contradiction there. Members opposite do not own Māori. Members opposite do not own the poor. Members opposite do not own the workers. No party and no ideology has a right to claim ownership over anything or anyone.
– Meager's maiden speech, 6 December 2023
Meager was the first new MP to give his maiden speech in the 54th Parliament. His contribution, which discussed his upbringing as a "part Māori boy raised in a state house by a single parent on the benefit" and the "walking contradiction" of that boy becoming a National Party MP was praised by commentators, who described Meager as "assured and confident" and a possible future prime minister. [12] [13] [14]
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